Muskingum stumbles in OAC play at John Carroll

NEW CONCORD, OHIO, October 15, 2011 - The Muskingum University football team lost at Ohio Athletic Conference foe John Carroll University on Saturday, 33-14.

With the loss, Muskingum slips to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the OAC. Muskingum next hosts Otterbein University (1-5, 0-5) for its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, October 22 at 1:30 p.m. in McConagha Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on WMCO 90.7 FM and simulcast on the Muskingum Web Broadcasting Network located on the Muskingum athletic web site beginning with the pregame show at 1:15 p.m.

With the win, John Carroll moves to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. The Blue Streaks scored 26 unanswered points to erase a 14-7 deficit en route to the win.

John Carroll struck first with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Devin O'Brien to Lane Robilotto on the final play of the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead.

Muskingum tied the game early in the second quarter on senior running back Demetrius Bailey's 46-yard touchdown run. The Muskies extended their lead to 14-7 on sophomore running back Anthony Frye's 10-yard touchdown run to cap off a six-play, 56-yard drive. The score was Frye's first of his career.

John Carroll trimmed its gap when O'Brien found Alex Kline for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds remaining in the half. The Blue Streaks missed the extra point and entered the break down 14-13.

In the third quarter, John Carroll took the lead on O'Brien's third touchdown pass of the game when he found Luke McCall for a 10-yard score in the final seconds of the frame. The scoring drive was set-up off a Muskingum fumble near midfield.

O'Brien added his fourth score of the contest on a one-yard plunge at the 8:19 mark of the fourth quarter to complete a 12-play, 73-yard drive. The Blue Streaks completed the scoring with Chris Creel recovered a Muskingum fumble in the end zone with 6:08 left in the game. The fumble was on a bad snap from a punt attempt.

Muskingum ended the game with 251 yards of offense. Bailey led the Muskie rushers with 53 yards on three totes with one score. Senior running back Palmer Smith added 51 yards on 13 carries and sophomore quarterback Dalton Smith chipped in 39 yards on 12 carries. Dalton Smith ended the game going 10-of-22 with one interception for 96 yards. Sophomore wide out James Washington led the receivers with four grabs for 70 yards.

John Carroll ended the outing with 261 yards of offense. O'Brien led the attack going 11-of-17 for 147 yards with three touchdowns. He also added 40 yards on 17 totes with one score. Ben Madden led the Blue Streak receivers with four receptions for 30 yards and Robilotto had two grabs for 40 yards and a score.